SAN FRANCISCO — Right-hander Corbin Burnes will throw two innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Reno on Saturday, Aug. 29, and if everything goes according to plan, all signs point to him returning from the injured list late next week.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Burnes will max out at 35 pitches for Reno, meaning he likely would be able to throw upward of 50 pitches in his next outing.
“I want him to step off the mound after he throws his 35th pitch and say he’s ready for his next challenge,” Lovullo said before the Diamondbacks' second game of a four-game series here Friday, Aug. 28. “I think that’s going to be the case. He’s an unbelievable competitor. He’s had a long layoff, and he wants to help this team.”
If all goes well, Burnes lines up
to pitch next weekend in Houston.
Burnes has not pitched in the majors since June 2025. He was expected to return last month from Tommy John surgery but had a setback in the form of a shoulder injury.
With an extra pitcher, thanks to expanded September rosters, the Diamondbacks feel like they will have enough depth to allow Burnes to build up his pitch count at the major league level.
Meanwhile, right-hander Zac Gallen will follow Burnes for Reno on Sunday, when he will throw four or five innings and 60 pitches. Gallen appears likely to return from the injured list during the Royals series in Kansas City from Sept. 7-9.
Right-hander Michael Soroka was expected to begin a throwing program on Friday, Aug. 28, the same day right-hander Ryne Nelson was to throw his third bullpen session as he builds back from an elbow injury. Nelson could be an option to throw multiple innings of relief later in September.
Nolan Arenado back in lineup
Third baseman Nolan Arenado was not listed in the Diamondbacks’ initial lineup, but he was added about an hour and a half before their game against the Giants on Friday night.
Arenado missed the series opener the night before due to right thumb inflammation.
Lovullo was asked about Arenado’s availability prior to the lineup change becoming official.
“He’s testing it out right now,” Lovullo said. “I think he wants to play, but there’s a process that we follow to make sure he’s not going to do any more damage or set himself backwards too far. We’ll talk to him and see what’s going on.
"I know he wants to play, and I want him to play, so it’s a possibility that we’re going to make it happen.”
Diamondbacks at Giants, 7:15 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks LHP Kohl Drake (0-1, 5.40) vs. Giants RHP Blade Tidwell (0-0, 3.58)
At Oracle Park: This was LHP Mitch Bratt’s spot in the rotation before he was optioned to Triple-A Reno earlier in the week. … Drake has made four starts for the Diamondbacks this season, logging at least four innings in three of them. … Tidwell, 25, was a second-round pick by the Mets in 2022. He was sent to the Giants in the RHP Tyler Rogers trade in July 2025. … He has made 12 appearances this season, the first eight in relief. Since moving into the rotation at the start of August, he has logged a 3.92 ERA in 20 2/3 innings. … Most recently, he tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Red Sox, with two walks and seven strikeouts.
Coming up
Saturday, Aug. 29: At San Francisco, Game 1, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Mitch Bratt (1-2, 4.54) vs. Giants TBA. Game 2, 7:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (8-12, 5.35) vs. Giants TBA.
Sunday, Aug. 30: Off.
Monday, Aug. 31: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-1, 3.51) vs. Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (5-10, 5.03).
Tuesday, Sept. 1: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (14-4, 2.50) vs. Phillies LHP Jesus Luzardo (12-5, 3.09).
(This story has been updated to add information.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks at Giants live. Corbin Burnes, Nolan Arenado updates
